Judging by the cheers greeting players' names as the teams are announced, there are a lot of French fans inside the Principality Stadium tonight.

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Wales love being the underdogs, which is just as well tonight because they are massive underdogs.

"For us, it's going to have to be a huge performance to pick up a result but we are quietly confident," says captain Dan Biggar.

"We are quite happy for France, for [Antoine] Dupont, [Romain] Ntamack and Shaun [Edwards] to take all the headlines and the stardust and things.

"We are hoping to go quietly under the radar and do our business."

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• France have won their past three games against Wales in all competitions, having lost eight out of the previous nine.
• France recorded a 27-23 victory on their last Six Nations visit to Wales. It was their first win in Cardiff in the championship since 2010.
• Les Bleus could win consecutive games in Cardiff for the first time since triumphing in the first four away meetings of the Six Nations between 2000 and 2006.
• Six of the last seven encounters have been won by five points or fewer, at an average of just 2.5 points per victory. The anomaly was France's 38-21 victory in Paris in October 2020.

Sam Warburton
Former Wales captain on BBC One

I think it's 90% certain France will win, but the Cardiff factor is a thing.

The atmosphere is so good. I don't think the French boys will be put off. [The home fans] don't put off the away team so much but what they do do is lift the home team.

That was pretty much the difference against Scotland.

Wales know they have to win today to give their campaign credibility.

It's a tough, tough task, but being in Cardiff will certainly help.

Wales have been hit and miss under Wayne Pivac, winning 11 matches, losing 13 and drawing one.

They can take heart from their home form in this competition, though.

Wales have won 10 of their past 11 matches at the Principality Stadium in the Six Nations.

However, the only side to beat them during that run was France in February 2020.

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Dafydd James
Former Lions and Wales back on BBC Radio Wales

I'm surprised to see Seb Davies in the back row, but Wayne Pivac has shown his hand - I think he's worried about the strength in depth that France have in their front five.

But it's probably the best group he could have chosen from what he had available.

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Why the empty seats then?

Former Welsh Rugby Union chairman Gareth Davies believes they are a result of ticket prices and the inconvenience of Friday night rugby.

"It's a bit of both in the sense that, £100 for a ticket, if you are going as a family it almost renders it impossible I'd have thought for most people in Wales," Davies told Radio Wales Breakfast today.

"Plus of course the fact the Friday night is not that attractive for any travelling French fans as well.

"The French normally pile into Cardiff in big numbers but that Friday night with work commitments makes it more challenging.

"If there are 10,000 tickets available for tonight then, the union will be disappointed because France is one of the attractive games at home and it will be a financial hit."

Now, the issue of Friday night rugby in the Six Nations can be quite contentious.

This will be the first in Cardiff for five years and the Principality Stadium does not look like it will be full.

In fact, the attendance is expected to be the lowest for a home Six Nations match against France since the Principality Stadium, which holds 74,500, was built in 1999.

The attendance is expected to be not much more than 60,000 with factors such as Friday night rugby and travel, Covid-19 concerns, a smaller French travelling support and expensive tickets costing £100 all contributing to the absent fans.

Former Wales international Philippa Tuttiett gives her prediction.

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This won't be the only time we do this tonight, but shall we take a moment to appreciate just how special Antoine Dupont is?

A magician of a scrum-half, the 25-year-old is the reigning World Rugby player of the year having been a constant shining light for France and his club side Toulouse.

His opposite number this evening, Tomos Williams, knows that too well, having faced Dupont for Cardiff and Wales.

"I think everyone knows how good a player he is," says Williams.

"We've just got to give him as few opportunities as possible. You have to always be on your toes around him.

"He is a big threat on both sides of the ball.

"I think the last couple of seasons he has been outstanding. He seems confident enough in himself that he can do a job."

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France captain and world player of the year Antoine Dupont has been passed fit despite injuring his arm during training on Tuesday.

There is one change from the starting XV that beat Scotland as winger Gabin Villiere comes in for Damian Penaud, who has tested positive for Covid-19.

Replacement lock Romain Taofifenua also drops out of the match-day 23 because of coronavirus.

France: Jaminet; Moefana, Fickou, Danty, Villiere; Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Baille, Marchand, Atonio, Woki, Willemse, Cros, Jelonch, Alldritt.

Replacements: Mauvaka, Gros, Haouas, Flament, Cretin, Lucu, Ramos, Lebel.

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Wales have brought in Cardiff duo Seb Davies and Josh Navidi in a back row reshuffle as head coach Wayne Pivac continues to tinker with his team.

Davies is normally a lock, while Navidi has just been called up the squad after recovering from a shoulder injury.

Centre Jonathan Davies replaces concussion victim Nick Tompkins, while prop Gareth Thomas also starts.

Fellow prop Tomas Francis starts despite suffering a head injury against England last time out.

Wales: L Williams; Cuthbert, Watkin, J Davies, Adams; Biggar (capt), T Williams; G Thomas, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, S Davies, Navidi, Faletau.

Replacements: Lake, W Jones, D Lewis, Moriarty, J Morgan, Hardy, Anscombe, Rees-Zammit.

Noswaith dda! Bonsoir! Good evening and welcome to the Principality Stadium, where Wales face France in the Six Nations tonight.

Welsh hopes of defending their title are effectively over after losing two of their three matches, but France are unbeaten and chasing a first Grand Slam since 2010.

Les Bleus are arguably the best team in the world right now, so what chance do Wales have of succeeding where the likes of Ireland and New Zealand have failed recently, by beating this formidable French side?

Let's start by having a look at the teams.

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